[Sawyer]

While I prefer the Amboli route since I never go further south than Candolim, the more the good routes the better, by spreading the load.

Even with Chorla available, the increase in the number of road users overall means that traffic via Amboli has not thinned out.

And all the roads are great roads to journey on, after leaving the fast but very boring NH4.

[phoenixash]

Did Bombay - Goa on the Holi long weekend, and took the Mumbai-Pune Expressway - and then NH4 until Nipani, followed by Amboli Ghat and SH180 to join the old Mumbai - Goa highway. Took 9 hrs 20 mins driving time for a total distance of 560 kms, and took 2 stops along the way. The road is in excellent condition, including the Ghat and state highway.

On the way back (left Goa at 7am), followed Google Maps, which recommended we join SH180 via the Redi - Belagavi Road (near the Banda Bus Stand). Not the best idea, as the road is in pretty poor condition and is quite narrow. However, still completed the drive to Bombay in 8 hrs 50 mins which was excellent timing. No queues at the toll boothes, very minimal traffic throughout and reached Bombay before rush hour, so was home in record time.

Was my first Bombay - Goa drive, and based on this experience, can be done more often!

Special thanks to all the route recommendations on this thread, as well as the best places to stop, was very helpful indeed.

[chittybang]

I am driving down from Vashi to Cavelossim, Goa on the 29th of march. Would be wiser to try the chorla ghat or do I stick to Amboli? My reason being that since the final destination is Cavelossim , wouldn't it make sense to avoid the Panjim traffic etc? I am travelling with a 6 year old so I prefer the safest route with ease of drive as a priority. Any suggestions.

[Amey Kulkarni]

Originally Posted by chittybang

I am driving down from Vashi to Cavelossim, Goa on the 29th of march. Would be wiser to try the chorla ghat or do I stick to Amboli? My reason being that since the final destination is Cavelossim , wouldn't it make sense to avoid the Panjim traffic etc? I am travelling with a 6 year old so I prefer the safest route with ease of drive as a priority. Any suggestions.

Cavelossim being in South Goa, it makes sense to by-pass the road through Panaji.

I had been through Chorla a couple of months back where the ghat had broken tarmac and civil works in progress along the sidelines on the narrow ghat making it cumbersome to drive comfortably and took more time to reach the destination.

I would suggest you to use the Anmod ghat which is in great condition and travel in day-time as the roads to leading to Goa are narrow and through Jungles post Belgaum.

Cheers,
Amey

[chittybang]

Thanks Amey, could you also suggest some good stop over options for food? I am looking for kid friendly spaces.
How much time would it take from Belgaum to Goa via Anmod Ghat? I usually start at 6 am and reach belgaum by 12 noon. So needed to know if I should plan my day earlier to avoid driving through the jungles by sun down.
Also, do these routes have any time restrictions since its through the jungles?
thanks once again for the quick advice.
Anuj

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by chittybang

How much time would it take from Belgaum to Goa via Anmod Ghat? I usually start at 6 am and reach belgaum by 12 noon. So needed to know if I should plan my day earlier to avoid driving through the jungles by sun down.
Also, do these routes have any time restrictions since its through the jungles?
thanks once again for the quick advice.
Anuj

I sometimes use the Anmod route while coming back from Goa just for the heck of it, and it takes me about 3.5 hours from Margao to Belgaum (I have a Scorpio and am a very sedate driver).

The conventional route is Belgaum-Khanapur-Ramnagar-Anmod-South Goa. Instead of going till Ramnagar, you have the option of a shortcut through the Bhimgad wildlife sanctuary (starts just after Khanapur town); don't know how its recent condition is, though. However, vehicles are allowed on this shortcut route only from 6 AM - 6 PM.

Cheers,
Vikram

[Amey Kulkarni]

Originally Posted by chittybang

Thanks Amey, could you also suggest some good stop over options for food? I am looking for kid friendly spaces.
How much time would it take from Belgaum to Goa via Anmod Ghat? I usually start at 6 am and reach belgaum by 12 noon. So needed to know if I should plan my day earlier to avoid driving through the jungles by sun down.
Also, do these routes have any time restrictions since its through the jungles?
thanks once again for the quick advice.
Anuj

Considering you start by 6am from Mumbai; reaching Belgaum by 12 noon is slightly a tight schedule with kids on-board.

I would suggest you to leave by 5am and have breakfast directly at Virangula, just before Satara; which is famous for light snacks. Further for lunch, if you are a non-veg lover you can stop at -

1. Hotel Dehati or Hotel Parakh at Kolhapur
2. Hotel Khyber or Hotel Sun and Sand at Belgaum.

Must orders -

1. Hotel Dehati - Special Mutton Thali
2. Hotel Parakh - Special Mutton Thali
3. Hotel Khyber - Mutton Biryani
4. Hotel Sun n Sand - Chinese starters, Kebabs and Chicken/Mutton Biryani

Cheers,
Amey

[Ertigiat]

Originally Posted by chittybang

I am driving down from Vashi to Cavelossim, Goa on the 29th of march. Would be wiser to try the chorla ghat or do I stick to Amboli? My reason being that since the final destination is Cavelossim , wouldn't it make sense to avoid the Panjim traffic etc? I am travelling with a 6 year old so I prefer the safest route with ease of drive as a priority. Any suggestions.

Your destination is Cavelossim, which is south of South Goa . It doesn't make any sense to take Chorla route. As mentioned by Amey & Vikram stick to Anmod route. Once you descend ghat I would suggest you to take Sanvordem-Quepem-Cavelossim route or Sanvordem-Chandor-Cavelossim route. Any of these 2 routes should help you reaching destination faster.

Originally Posted by chittybang

Thanks Amey, could you also suggest some good stop over options for food? I am looking for kid friendly spaces.
How much time would it take from Belgaum to Goa via Anmod Ghat? I usually start at 6 am and reach belgaum by 12 noon. So needed to know if I should plan my day earlier to avoid driving through the jungles by sun down.
Also, do these routes have any time restrictions since its through the jungles?
thanks once again for the quick advice.
Anuj

I reside in Margao & have lost count of number times I have taken Anmod route. I normally break down the journey in several milestones & try to reach as per plan. Like,

Entrance of Belgaum city till Khanapur - 45 mins
Khanapur to Anmod Check post - 45 mins
Anmod Checkpost to Margao - 75 mins

So usually I cover the distance within 3 hours. I drive Ertiga/Scorpio & time mentioned is with 2 kids on board. You can knock off 15 minutes easily if you are solo driver.

Time restrictions have been mentioned by Vikram for route through Bhimgad wildlife Sanctuary. Road is also in a decent condition barring few locations where road repair is in process.

I would avoid getting in Kolhapur city for the sake of food. As suggested by Amey you can start little early & reach Belgaum for lunch. Even if you depart Belgaum by 2.30 PM you should reach your destination by 6.30-7.00 PM easily.

For eateries, you will come across plenty of option as soon as you enter Belgaum. McD, KFC, Subway, Domino's are situate at the entrance of Belgaum.

If you do not want fast food then you can have lunch at Ramdev Hotel which will be few meters from above mentioned eateries. If you want to try authentic North Karnataka food then you can opt for thali at Basaveshwar khanaval, which is right next to Ramdev Hotel. (Amey has already mentioned non-veg options).

Have a safe journey,

[Dodge_Viper]

Hi Folks

Would be driving down to Goa May end. Have booked a place at Majorda. Google suggest 2 routes, one via Amboli and another via Anmod. Though Amboli doesn't make sense, I am preferring Anmod.

Should I just follow what Google is suggesting? As google is notorious to put you through some horrible shortcuts.

Google Route

Belgaum-Khanapur-Shiroli-Anmod-Mollem-Camorlim-Nuvem-Majorda

[Ertigiat]

Originally Posted by Dodge_Viper

Belgaum-Khanapur-Shiroli-Anmod-Mollem-Camorlim-Nuvem-Majorda

Road shown in map post Belgaum is perfectly fine. Please follow Gmaps all the way till your destination. But do read through previous posts for time restrictions on certain roads(Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary Road- No vehicle allowed from 6 PM to 6 AM).

[F150]

Originally Posted by Ertigiat

Road shown in map post Belgaum is perfectly fine. Please follow Gmaps all the way till your destination. But do read through previous posts for time restrictions on certain roads(Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary Road- No vehicle allowed from 6 PM to 6 AM).

Avoid the bhimgad wildlife sanctuary road, there is an alternate route thru Londa/Ramnagar, you will save a lot of time thru this route.

[Ertigiat]

Originally Posted by F150

Avoid the bhimgad wildlife sanctuary road, there is an alternate route thru Londa/Ramnagar, you will save a lot of time thru this route.

I beg to differ. Road which is via Ramnagar is NH-748 (Erstwhile NH-4A) & is definitely not time saving one. In fact road through wildlife sanctuary cuts down your travel distance by at least 15-16 kms & saves minimum of 20-25 mins travel time. Forest road is narrow but without potholes. Roads have been repaired & tarmac is re-laid wherever required. If you travel during weekday you will reach from Khanapur to Anmod check post within 35 mins. Heavy vehicles are not allowed on this route so what you will come across is cars (occasionally trucks working for forest department) & traffic increases a little during weekend. But again nothing will be alarming. I will recommend this road (Wildlife Sanctuary road) anytime over National Highway.

[Waspune]

Originally Posted by Ertigiat

I beg to differ. Road which is via Ramnagar is NH-748 (Erstwhile NH-4A) & is definitely not time saving one. In fact road through wildlife sanctuary cuts down your travel distance by at least 15-16 kms & saves minimum of 20-25 mins travel time. Forest road is narrow but without potholes. Roads have been repaired & tarmac is re-laid wherever required. If you travel during weekday you will reach from Khanapur to Anmod check post within 35 mins. Heavy vehicles are not allowed on this route so what you will come across is cars (occasionally trucks working for forest department) & traffic increases a little during weekend. But again nothing will be alarming. I will recommend this road (Wildlife Sanctuary road) anytime over National Highway.

I second that. The wildlife sanctuary road has even sparser traffic and is shorter as well. I always try to take this route when I travel to Palolem from Belgaum. It's open for 12 hours only : 6 am to 6 pm.

[Dodge_Viper]

Thanks guys. If the road is good I will definitely opt for it. Timings won't be an issue as I will hit that road during peak afternoon, as I am planning to leave Mumbai at 4AM.

BTW any chance of wildlife spotting?

[vikrantj]

Last weekend I traveled from Pune to Candolim in Goa. I used the Chorla Ghat route. Beautiful roads and the motorcycle ride was all worth the extra 50km with respect to Amboli ghat.